Hieroglyphs Historical Thread

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Hieroglyphs in Ancient Egyptian Art & Architecture

It's easy to appreciate art for art's sake. When it comes to the artwork of an ancient civilization, though, we achieve a much deeper appreciation once we understand those things that were of concern to the ordinary citizen. When it comes to Egyptian art, no understanding can be complete without some knowledge of the symbols that were used in the creation of any given piece. It is the use of the 100 most common of those symbols that will be the focus of this thread. Let's look at an example:

This intricate vase was found among the famous Treasures of Tutankhamun. As a work of art, it is lovely to look at on its own. However, on closer examination, you can see that this vase is made up almost entirely of hieroglyphic symbols.

First across the bottom, we see the ankh the Egyptian symbol meaning life. In this vase, the cross bars have been designed as arms to hold up the was scepter, which is the Egyptian hieroglyph for dominion. And there is reason to believe the central portion of the base is a stylized djed pillar, which represents stability. The upper section is made up of the renpet, meaning years, the papyrus of Lower Egypt and the lotus of Upper Egypt, surrounding the sema, the sign for union.

This work, therefore, is far more than just an ornate vase of abstract design. It actually contains a very specific symbolic message that invokes the stability and unity of Upper and Lower Egypt guided by the power and life of her Pharaoh Tutankhamun, whose shenou can be seen carved into the side of the vase.

This is not to say that all Egyptian Art is hieroglyphic. But it is probably safe to say that Egyptian hieroglyphs form the basis of Egyptian iconography, which by its very nature is concerned with the very practical function of making a statement, be it for protection in this world or a safe journey through the next.

Created by:

* Onions Hatshepsut, Nov 30, 2003 - 22:29

1 Member has made 2 Posts here to date.

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A8 - henu - praise (* Sankhkare Thutmose, Jan 4, 2004 - 20:25 )
A1 - se - the seated man (* Sankhkare Thutmose, Dec 4, 2003 - 10:42 )


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